Wrench



N0. 623,!88. Patented Apr. I8, |899.

J. W. & E. ASKERSICK.

WRENCH.

`(Applinatioxx filed Feb. 18, 18949.)

(No Model.)

Mmmm i* JOSEPH lV. SKERSIOK AND JOSEPH F. SKERSIOK, OF BERTRAN, lOlVA.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,188, dated April 18, 1899.

Application filed February 13, 1899. Serial No. 705,462. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH W. SKERSICK and JOSEPH F. Sknnsrck, citizens of the United States, residing at Bertram, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vrenches; and we do hereby-declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to so improve the construction of a monkey-wrench as to admit of its jaws being clamped tightly on a nut, bolt, or other object, so as to hold the same as in a vise.

The nature of the invention is fully disclosed in the description and claims following, reference being had to the acoompanyin g drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of our improved wrench. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same in the saine plane as Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate cori-ef sponding parts.

In the drawings, A designates the outer jaw of the wrench and has a rectangular shank A and a terminal screwthreaded portion A2 to' take 'a knnrled thumb-nut B. The shank of this jaw iits in a rectangular socket O in the handle C, which is preferably of metal, and has an opening at O2 to receive'the thumb-nut and adjacent abutments C3, the handle being for the most'part hollow, as shown in Fig. 2. Suitable holes in these abutments admit the threaded portion of the shank and allow for the adjustment of the jaw to any desired eX- tent.

The inner jaw D is provided also with a rectangular hole to receive the shank of the outer jaw. It is further provided with a tailpiece D', which enters a recess C4 at the back side of the handle and serves to brace the inner jaw against diagonal strain when pressure is brought to bear on the jaw proper.

On the front portion of the handle, adjacent to the inner jaw, is a projection or lug O5, and to this is pivoted a bifurcated lever E, the legs E of which straddle the shank of the outer jaw and lie between the jaw end of the handle and the adjacent face of the inner jaw. This lever also connects by a link F with the inner jaw, a suitable socket D2 being formed therein to receive said link. The other end of the lever, when closed down to locking position, as shown in full outlines in lboth iigures, lies close to the back of the wrench handle and may be conveniently grasped by the operator as a part of the handle.

The action of the wrench is illustrated in Fig. l. A For ordinary use the wrench is left in the position shown in full. When, however, itis desired to grip anything tightly, the lever is thrown up, as shown by the dotted lines, which draws the inner jaw back a little toward the handle. The wrench is then adjusted to the object in the usual way by the use of the thumb-nut, and finally the lever is pressed down to its locking position against the handle, which causes the jaws to gripthe object very tightly.

It is to be noted that the lever has but a limited movement, being stopped in one direct-ion by the inner jaw and in the other direction by the handle. This prevents its getting out of easy reach of the operator. It will be observed also that the pressure of the toggle-lever is practically in line with the resistance and there is consequently but little diagonal strain on the inner jaw to throw it out of parallel withthe outer one and cause it to bind on the shank thereof. The tailpiece, furthermore, tends to relieve the jaw of whatever side strain there may be, as already speciiied.

The jaws may be smooth, as in Fig. 1, for ordinary use, or serrated, as in Fig. 2, and thus serve for gripping pipe and the like.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wrench, the combination of an outer jaw having a rectangular shank and screwthreaded portion, a handle adapted to receive the same,with a suitable adjusting-nut, an inner jaw adapted to slide on the shank of the outer jaw, a bifurcated lever straddling the shank between the inner jaw and the handle, and pivoted to a projection of said handle, and a link connecting said lever with said inner jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a wrench, the combination of an outer ICO jaw having'a rectangular shank and serewvalso with the inner jaw, substantially as and threaded portion, a handle to receive the for the purpose set forth.

same, havinga nut-socket and an adjnsting- In testimony whereof We affix our signanut therein, an inner jaw ltted to slide on the tures in presence of two Witnesses.

5 shank of the outerjaw, and having a tailpiece Y f on the back side enteringa socket therefor in the handle, and a bifnreated lever st-raddling Ythe shank, and pivotally connected near the \Vitnesses:

ends of its legs with a projecting portion of CHARLIE SKERSICK,

1o the handle, and a link connecting said legs l J. M. ST. JOHN. 

